Singapore PR Application Mistakes

It is no secret that the journey towards Singapore permanent residence (PR) status can be long and bumpy. There are often high costs involved, both financially and mentally. The long processing time makes most applicants even more eager to get it right the first time, but also to start completing the application forms as soon as possible. The assistance of a professional agency can take some of this pressure off of your shoulders. We can help you ensure an error-free cover letter and Singapore PR application.

Delays and other roadblocks are unfortunate but often form part of personal journeys through the Singapore PR process. A professional agency can help you to significantly reduce the chances of such misfortunes coming into your experience.

Something that makes dealing with denied applications so difficult is that the checkpoints authority does not state reasons for failed applications in their rejection letters. Your application form might not even have been accepted during the initial submission process just after you fill it in. Such instances can lead to frustration and despair because if it fails to submit, you need to complete the application form all over again.

Here we will discuss four categories where errors are usually made with a Singapore PR application.

Incomplete Online Singapore PR Application Form

Your PR application form should be completed extremely carefully. Pay attention to the minor details, such as the individual digits in your contact details. Visit the support links on the website often for details you might have missed while you are preparing.

One of the most common mistakes is leaving some sections blank. An incomplete form or one that has not been completed correctly can result in a failed application or can have your application denied. It helps to know exactly how the e-PR system works. Leaving anything blank on the e-PR system can, and usually does, lead to non-acceptance during the initial submission. If the submission fails, you need to start the entire process from scratch. If a field is not applicable to your situation, enter “NA” instead of leaving it blank.

What Applicants can Expect in the e-Application Form

Finding the e-PR System for the General User Applicant

• Open the ICA official website.
• Click on MyICA (top left-hand corner of the homepage)
• Log in using your SingPass account (or register for one before proceeding)
• Scroll down to e-Services
• Click on Permanent Residence
• Click on Apply for Permanent Residence

Proceed to the e-PR system as an Internation Student Applicant

• Open the ICA official website.
• Click on I am a Pass Holder
• Then Becoming a Permanent Resident
• Click on Apply Online
• Login into the system via the questionnaire
• Enter your Foreign Identification Number (FIN) plus the date of your valid immigration pass

Complete the Application Form, Disclosure Page, and Personnel List

You will begin by completing sections related to your personal details. Remember to type something into every field. Do not leave anything blank. If there are fields that are not applicable to your personal circumstances, you can indicate that with an “NA”. One of the simplest common mistakes to make is to leave fields blank in application forms.

Applicants can download it and complete it in a PDF editor if they like, but they should also be able to complete it online. Officially, the ICA recommends that applicants download the form and complete it in an editor before uploading again when complete.

When all the details on the personal information page are complete, including contact details, applicants will move on to the Disclosure Page and then the Personnel List. Again, remember to complete every field and leave nothing blank.

Before applicants submit anything, they should go through their answers again and make sure that they have completed everything correctly. You cannot make changes once you move on to the next stage. Details provided on PR applications should be checked several times, preferably by a second person who can double-check numbers, like financial information.

Upload Required Documents for PR Application Form

If you are absolutely sure that everything you have completed so far is correct, you can start to upload the required documents for your Singapore PR form. If you are unsure, get a second trusted person to double-check your Singapore PR form details.

If you want to upload a document:

• Click on Choose File (in each subsection)
• Choose the file you want to upload

Applicants should leave no field on the form blank. Where there is a document that does not apply to you, you will fill in “NA”. For optional documents, that will be enough, but if you do not upload a mandatory document, you will need to provide a valid reason for not providing that document.

Make sure that you upload all the required documents. Leaving any document, like an employment pass, out will require a valid reason. There will be spaces where you can upload additional documents.

As far as possible, try to use original documents, so you get the best possible quality of document for upload. It is best to upload only the bare necessary document for the best chance to be granted Singapore permanent residents (PR) status.

Pay the PR Application Fees

The last step in the application is to pay the fee ($100). Any application fees are non-refundable. If your Singapore PR application is unsuccessful, you will need to pay the fee again.

Incompatible Documents

Another significant mistake often made with a Singapore PR form is to upload incompatible document formats for your Singapore PR applications. You will need to make sure that anything you submit is in the correct format in accordance with the requirements of the ICA and the Government of Singapore. Incompatible documents often result in non-acceptance upon submission. Pay attention to these requirements:

Acceptable Passport-Sized Photograph

A current passport-sized photo is extremely important and has very strict and highly specific formatting requirements. Getting them wrong can cause your Singapore PR application to be turned down.

• JPEG format
• Width: 400 x 514 pixels
• Under 1MB before upload

If you are using a scanned image of a photo on your form, make sure that there is no shine. The purpose of this is so that your face is entirely visible and nothing is blocked. The image needs to have been taken within three months, and there should be no editing or changing of facial features. Your expression needs to be neutral, and your entire face must be entirely visible. Hair should also be out of your face and eyes.

If you usually wear glasses, you should keep your glasses on for the photo. You are also allowed to keep religious head-wear on for the photo, even if it blocks your face. Should your Singapore PR application be successful, it is this photo that will be used in your NRIC; this is why the details and PR formalities around this photo are so specific.

Size and Format of Other Documents

You can upload any other document in JPEG or PDF format, as long as they are under 2MB. If you have anything in a format that is not accepted, it is best to convert them to appropriate formats for your application form. There are also tools that can compress your files and make the size smaller. The e-PR system provides a list of recommended versions of this tool.

In order to get the best possible quality of the document, make sure to scan it in the appropriate format from the start. Any kind of certificate or employment pass or any such official document or form should be scanned in colour if at all possible.

Incorrect Required Documents Attached to Form

When under pressure, you might also accidentally upload the incorrect document to your form altogether. It is best to get these documents ready before you begin completing the application form. Name your documents so that you can easily distinguish them and know exactly which document is which. Many Singapore PR applications are rejected due to incorrect documents being uploaded. Avoid the following:

Incomplete or Missing Documents

Try to keep a checklist and keep your documents organised into separate folders on your computer before beginning with your application form. Make sure they are named clearly. This leaves far less room for mistakes. When you start the application form, you will only have seven days in which to complete it and upload all your document before it is submitted automatically. This makes it extremely important that applicants have all their documents ready before they start completing the application form.

Unacceptable Translations

One of the ICA stipulations is that any document accompanying your form that is not in English needs to be translated. If there is no translation, your application will not be approved. Furthermore, there are specific requirements for translations set out by the ICA. There are only three places that they accept translations from.

• High commission or embassy of the country where the document was issued.
• A notary public based in the country where the document was issued or in Singapore.
• A private translator who will later be attested by one of the above.

Any other kind of translation, or a lack of translation, will result in a failed application. Even something like a certificate or visa, for example, should be translated.

Adding More Than Necessary to your Form

While it is easy to feel compelled to add more rather than less, it is important that for the purpose of this application, you add only what is necessary. ICA officers review dozens of these per day, and you do not want to give them more paperwork to review than they need to. Stick to a minimal but inclusive list. Do not risk your permanent residence status approval letter by uploading too much and flooding the ICA with too much information. For example, if you do not need to upload your visa for whatever reason, then rather leave it out, even if you have it ready.

Rushing Through the Process

Do not ever rush through the application process. When you begin the Singapore PR application process, you want to be entirely sure that you have everything ready and at hand. Do not rush into the application; take time to prepare in advance.

Do the following before you begin.

Verify your Eligibility for PR Status

You will need to start by confirming that you are, in fact, eligible for application as a Singapore PR. In order to apply through the Family Scheme, you need to be married either to a Singapore Citizen or a permanent resident.

For children, they must be born to or adopted by a Singapore citizen or permanent resident within the context of a legal marriage. A birth certificate is necessary in this case.

Aged parents can only apply through a Singapore citizen, not a Singapore PR. So your parents can only apply if you already have Singapore citizenship, NOT when you are just a Singapore permanent resident.

If you are applying through your own merits, you can use one of the following:

• Professional, Technical Personnel, and Skilled Workers (PTS) Scheme (employment pass and education history will be necessary)
• Global Investor Programme (GIP)
• Student Scheme (your education history will need to be supplied)

Compile the Documents Beforehand

Get your documents ready before you begin completing the form. You will only have seven days from the start date to complete the application form entirely and submit all supporting documents.

Maximise the Time Allocated to You During the Online PR Application

Use some of your allocated time to review the information. At certain points, you will be asked to verify your personal information. Once finished, it is advised that you keep a completed copy of your application. If there are significant changes to your situation while you wait for feedback, you should contact ICA offices in writing.

A Final Note

If you have taken all preparatory steps and gone over your application carefully before submitting it, then there is a good chance that you will successfully avoid common mistakes and will be granted Singapore PR status. If you find yourself still concerned about common mistakes, please contact one of our consultants. We can help at any point during the application. Remember also that individuals can only begin to apply to become Singapore citizens when they have been permanent residents for a specific period of time.